Stories of the Week: Contest #348
Welcome back to your weekly wrap-up of the Reedsy Prompts contest! This week’s tales are hot off the press, so settle in and check out our latest contest winner, the runners-up, and recent popular entries in your preferred genres below.
Also, don’t forget to like and comment on your favorites! Our authors work hard on their submissions every week — your support and feedback mean the world to them.
Winner 🏆
Iteration #458
by
Ariel Sanchez
A woman wakes up in a strange facility with no memory of her past. Will she ever discover how she ended up here, or will she forever be kept in the dark?
💡 Inspired by the prompt:
Start or end your story with the sound of a heartbeat.
📌 Why it won: Guest judge Susan Chang said: "This story instantly grabbed me with its opening lines. It pulls the reader into the awakening consciousness of Iteration #458, who doesn’t know who she is or what has happened to her. We learn, at the same time as the unnamed iteration does, what the horrifying situation is (spoiler alert!): humanity is on the brink of extinction and only manages to survive by reviving and repurposing dead people. The prompt was to 'Start or end your story with the sound of a heartbeat,' and not only did the author both start and end their story with a heartbeat, but they also made us sympathize with both characters and ask the question: Who is the human, and who is the monster? A captivating new take on the Frankenstein story."
Runners-up 🏅
The Horologist
by
Sophie Fawley
Meet Alistair, a veteran clocksmith whose life ticks along with orderly precision — until a dying man collapses outside his shop...
💡 Inspired by the prompt:
Start or end your story with the sound of a heartbeat.
Down the Hall
by
Dawn Undead
A lonely office worker forms a strange bond with something that may or may not be a vengeful spirit. As it feeds her growing resentment toward her boss, things take a (deliciously dark) turn.
💡 Inspired by the prompt:
Include the line “Who are you?” or “Are you real?” in your story.
Stories you might like 👀
This week’s top stories from your preferred genres.
Contemporary
The Perfect Dog
by
Helen A Howard
Heart and Soul
by
Elizabeth Hoban
Drama
Quid Pro Quo
by
Marjolein Greebe
INNER BEAUTY
by
BRUCE MARTIN
Fiction
Your Replacement Is Waiting
by
Jim LaFleur
Good Night, Raphaël
by
Raji Reda
And there you have it: the latest and greatest of this week! If you want to change your preferred genres or opt out of this newsletter, you can do so anytime in your Account Settings.
Stay tuned for next week’s wrap-up, which will feature stories from the "From the Ashes with Michael McConnell" edition of our contest.
Happy reading,
Isabella, Chief Story Curator @ Reedsy
P.S. Want to be featured in this newsletter? Submit a story to the current edition of our contest, "Comic Relief", for the chance to receive fame, glory, and a top prize of $250!
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